**John Cazale (1935-1978)** was an American actor known for a short but incredibly influential and impeccable film career. He appeared in just five feature films, all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: *The Godfather* (1972) and *The Godfather Part II* (1974), both directed by Francis Ford Coppola; *The Conversation* (1974), also by Coppola; *Dog Day Afternoon* (1975), directed by Sidney Lumet; and *The Deer Hunter* (1978), directed by Michael Cimino.

Cazale excelled at portraying complex and often tormented characters. His typical roles included vulnerable, neurotic, sometimes weak or unfortunate figures, who added depth and realism to every scene. His ability to make secondary characters memorable, such as Fredo Corleone, made him a cult actor. Despite his premature death, his work remains a benchmark in the history of modern American cinema.